Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a substrate including a first area and a second area, main pixel groups, auxiliary pixel groups, first signal lines, and second signal lines, wherein a distance between adjacent ones of the first signal lines in the second area gradually decreases toward outer regions of the second area from a center of the second area, and a distance between adjacent ones of the second signal lines in the second area gradually decreases toward the outer regions of the second area from the center of the second area.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.17/060,531, filed Oct. 1, 2020 (now pending), the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 17/060,531 claims priority to and benefits ofKorean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0176263 under 35 U.S.C. § 119,filed on Dec. 27, 2019, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

One or more embodiments relate to a display device having enhancedproduct reliability.

2. Description of Related Art

Display devices have recently been applied to a diverse range of uses.Since the thicknesses and weights of display devices have decreased, therange of use thereof has been widening.

As display devices are being utilized in various ways, the shapes of thedisplay devices may be designed in various ways. Functions that may becombined with or linked to display devices have also increased.

It is to be understood that this background of the technology sectionis, in part, intended to provide useful background for understanding thetechnology. However, this background of the technology section may alsoinclude ideas, concepts, or recognitions that were not part of what wasknown or appreciated by those skilled in the pertinent art prior to acorresponding effective filing date of the subject matter disclosedherein.

SUMMARY

One or more embodiments include a display device having an area in whicha sensor or the like may be arranged or disposed inside of a displayarea in order to increase functions that may be combined with or linkedto such a display device or display devices. However, these objectivesare just examples, and the scope of the disclosure is not limitedthereby.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of the embodiments.

According to one or more embodiments, a display device may include asubstrate including a first area and a second area, the second areahaving a transmission area, a plurality of main pixel groups disposed inthe first area, a plurality of auxiliary pixel groups disposed in thesecond area, a plurality of first signal lines that electrically connectthe plurality of main pixel groups to the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups, the plurality of first signal lines extending in a firstdirection, and a plurality of second signal lines that electricallyconnect the plurality of main pixel groups to the plurality of auxiliarypixel groups, the plurality of second signal lines extending in a seconddirection intersecting the first direction. A distance between adjacentones of the plurality of first signal lines in the second area maygradually decrease toward outer portions of the second area from acenter of the second area, and a distance between adjacent ones of theplurality of second signal lines in the second area may graduallydecrease toward the outer portions of the second area from the center ofthe second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of first signal linesin the first area may be less than or equal to the distance betweenadjacent ones of the plurality of first signal lines in the second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of second signal linesin the first area may be less than or equal to the distance betweenadjacent ones of the plurality of second signal lines in the secondarea.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups disposed in the first direction may gradually decrease toward theouter portions of the second area from the center of the second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups disposed in the second direction may gradually decrease towardthe outer portions of the second area from the center of the secondarea.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of main pixel groupsdisposed in the first direction may be less than or equal to a distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixel groupsdisposed in the first direction.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of main pixel groupsdisposed in the second direction may be less than or equal to a distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixel groupsdisposed in the second direction.

Each of the plurality of auxiliary pixel groups may include a firstauxiliary pixel, a second auxiliary pixel, and a third auxiliary pixelthat may emit light of different wavelengths.

Each of the plurality of main pixel groups may include a first mainpixel, a second main pixel, and a third main pixel that may emit lightof different wavelengths.

Each of the plurality of second signal lines may include a firstconductive line, a second conductive line, and a third conductive line.

A portion of the first conductive line may be electrically connected tothe first auxiliary pixel, a portion of the second conductive line maybe electrically connected to the second auxiliary pixel, and a portionof the third conductive line may be electrically connected to the thirdauxiliary pixel.

The first conductive line may be electrically connected to the firstmain pixel, the second conductive line may be electrically connected tothe second main pixel, and the third conductive line may be electricallyconnected to the third main pixel.

At least one of the plurality of first signal lines may include firstsignal lines extending in the first direction and disconnected eachother by the second area between the disconnected first signal lines,and the disconnected first signal lines may be electrically connected byconnection lines disposed along edges of the second area.

At least one of the plurality of second signal lines may include secondsignal lines extending in the second direction and disconnected eachother by the second area between the disconnected second signal lines,and the disconnected second signal lines may be electrically connectedby connection lines disposed along edges of the second area.

According to one or more embodiments, a display device may include asubstrate including a first area and a second area, the second areahaving a transmission area, a plurality of main pixel groups disposed inthe first area, a plurality of auxiliary pixel groups disposed in thesecond area, a plurality of first signal lines that electrically connectthe plurality of main pixel groups to the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups, the plurality of first signal lines extending in a firstdirection, a plurality of second signal lines that electrically connectthe plurality of main pixel groups to the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups, the plurality of second signal lines extending in a seconddirection intersecting the first direction, and a component disposedbelow the substrate to correspond to the second area and including anelectronic element emitting or receiving light, wherein a distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of first signal lines in thesecond area gradually decreases toward outer portions of the second areafrom a center of the second area, and a distance between adjacent onesof the plurality of second signal lines in the second area graduallydecreases toward the outer portions of the second area from the centerof the second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of first signal linesin the first area may be less than or equal to a distance betweenadjacent ones of the plurality of first signal lines in the second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of second signal linesin the first area may be less than or equal to a distance betweenadjacent ones of the plurality of second signal lines in the secondarea.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups disposed in the first direction may gradually decrease toward theouter portions of the second area from the center of the second area.

A distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups disposed in the second direction may gradually decrease towardthe outer portions of the second area from the center of the secondarea.

Each of the plurality of auxiliary pixel groups may include a firstauxiliary pixel, a second auxiliary pixel, and a third auxiliary pixelthat may emit light of different wavelengths.

Other aspects, features, and advantages than the above-describedaspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the followingdrawings, the claims, and a detailed description of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of embodimentswill be more apparent from the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating adisplay device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views schematicallyillustrating a display device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are equivalent circuit diagrams of pixels that may beincluded in a display device according to an embodiment;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views of a main pixel andan auxiliary pixel that may be included in a display device according toan embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views schematically illustrating a displaydevice according to an embodiment; and

FIGS. 10A and 10B are plan views schematically illustrating a displaydevice according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, theembodiments may have different forms and should not be construed asbeing limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, theembodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, toexplain aspects of the description.

Some of the parts which are not associated with the description may notbe provided in order to describe embodiments of the disclosure and likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the disclosure,the expression “at least one of a, b or c” indicates only a, only b,only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, all of a, b, and c, orvariations thereof.

The terms “and” and “or” may be used in the conjunctive or disjunctivesense and may be understood to be equivalent to “and/or.” In thespecification and the claims, the phrase “at least one of” is intendedto include the meaning of “at least one selected from the group of” forthe purpose of its meaning and interpretation. For example, “at leastone of A and B” may be understood to mean “A, B, or A and B.”

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described below in more detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. Those elements that are the sameor are in correspondence are rendered the same reference numeralregardless of the figure number, and a redundant description therewithis omitted.

It will be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,” etc.may be used herein to describe various components, these componentsshould not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used todistinguish one element from another. For instance, a first elementdiscussed below could be termed a second element without departing fromthe teachings of the disclosure. Similarly, the second element couldalso be termed the first element.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It will be further understood that when the terms “comprises,”“comprising,” “includes” and/or “including”, “have” and/or “having” areused in this specification, they or it may specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of otherfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or anycombination thereof.

When a layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element is referredto as being “on” another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, orelement, it may be directly on the other film, region, substrate, orarea, or element, or intervening films, regions, substrates, or areas,or elements may be present therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film,region, substrate, or area, or element, is referred to as being“directly on” another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, orelement, intervening layers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, maybe absent therebetween. Further when a layer, film, region, substrate,or area, or element, is referred to as being “below” another layer,film, region, substrate, or area, or element, it may be directly belowthe other layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element, orintervening layers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, or elements,may be present therebetween. Conversely, when a layer, film, region,substrate, or area, or element, is referred to as being “directly below”another layer, film, region, substrate, or area, or element, interveninglayers, films, regions, substrates, or areas, or elements may be absenttherebetween. Further, “over” or “on” may include positioning on orbelow an object and does not necessarily imply a direction based upongravity.

The spatially relative terms “below”, “beneath”, “lower”, “above”,“upper”, or the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe the relations between one element or component and anotherelement or component as illustrated in the drawings. It will beunderstood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompassdifferent orientations of the device in use or operation, in addition tothe orientation depicted in the drawings. For example, in the case wherea device illustrated in the drawing is turned over, the devicepositioned “below” or “beneath” another device may be placed “above”another device. Accordingly, the illustrative term “below” may includeboth the lower and upper positions. The device may also be oriented inother directions and thus the spatially relative terms may beinterpreted differently depending on the orientations.

In the drawings, sizes and thicknesses of elements may be enlarged forbetter understanding, clarity, and ease of description thereof. However,the disclosure is not limited to the illustrated sizes and thicknesses.In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels, regions, andother elements, may be exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, forbetter understanding and ease of description, the thicknesses of somelayers and areas may be exaggerated.

Further, in the specification, the phrase “in a plan view” means when anobject portion is viewed from above, and the phrase “in a schematiccross-sectional view” means when a schematic cross-section taken byvertically cutting an object portion is viewed from the side.

Additionally, the terms “overlap” or “overlapped” mean that a firstobject may be above or below or to a side of a second object, and viceversa. Additionally, the term “overlap” may include layer, stack, faceor facing, extending over, covering or partly covering or any othersuitable term as would be appreciated and understood by those ofordinary skill in the art. The terms “face” and “facing” mean that afirst element may directly or indirectly oppose a second element. In acase in which a third element intervenes between the first and secondelement, the first and second element may be understood as beingindirectly opposed to one another, although still facing each other.When an element is described as ‘not overlapping’ or ‘to not overlap’another element, this may include that the elements are spaced apartfrom each other, offset from each other, or set aside from each other orany other suitable term as would be appreciated and understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art.

The x-axis, the y-axis and the z-axis are not limited to three axes ofthe rectangular coordinate system, and may be interpreted in a broadersense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis may beperpendicular to one another, and may represent different directionsthat may not be perpendicular to one another.

“About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the statedvalue and means within an acceptable range of deviation for theparticular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art,considering the measurement in question and the error associated withmeasurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of themeasurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or morestandard deviations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

It will be understood that when a layer, region, or element is referredto as being “connected to” or “coupled to” another layer, region, orelement, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other layer,region, or element or intervening layers, regions, or elements may bepresent. For example, as used herein, when a layer, region, or elementis referred to as being “electrically connected to” another layer,region, or element, it can be directly electrically connected to theother layer, region, or element or intervening layers, interveningregions, or intervening elements may be present.

Also, when an element is referred to as being “in contact” or“contacted” or the like to another element, the element may be in“electrical contact” or in “physical contact” with another element; orin “indirect contact” or in “direct contact” with another element.

When an embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific processorder may be performed differently from the described order. Forexample, two consecutively described processes may be performedsubstantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to thedescribed order.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments pertain. In addition,it will be further understood that terms, such as those defined incommonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaningthat is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant artand will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal senseunless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a display device 1 may include a display area DA,in which an image or images may be realized, and a non-display area NDA,in which an image or images may not be realized. The display area DA mayinclude a first area 1A and a second area 2A, the second area 2A havinga transmission area TA. The display device 1 may provide or display amain image or images by using light emitted from main pixels Pm arrangedor disposed in the first area 1A and may provide or display an auxiliaryimage or images by using light emitted from auxiliary pixels Pa arrangedor disposed in the second area 2A.

The second area 2A may be an area in which a component including anoptical element may be located or disposed thereunder or there below, aswill be described below with reference to FIG. 2 . The second area 2Amay include the transmission area TA through which light and/or soundoutput from a component to the outside or proceeding toward thecomponent from the outside may transmit. In an embodiment, when infraredrays transmit through the second area 2A, light transmittance may beequal to or greater than about 30%, as an example, about 50%, about 75%,about 80%, about 85%, or about 90%.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary pixels Pa may be arranged or disposed inthe second area 2A, and an image or images may be provided from thesecond area 2A by using light emitted from the auxiliary pixels Pa. Theimage or images provided from the second area 2A may be an auxiliaryimage or images and may have a lower resolution than that of an image orimages provided from the first area 1A. For example, the second area 2Amay have the transmission area TA through which light and/or sound maytransmit. Thus, the number of auxiliary pixels Pa that may be arrangedor disposed per unit area in the second area 2A may be less than thenumber of main pixels Pm arranged or disposed per unit area in the firstarea 1A.

Hereinafter, an organic light-emitting display device will be describedas an example of a display device 1 according to an embodiment. However,the display device according to the disclosure is not limited thereto.In an embodiment, a variety of types of display devices including aninorganic electroluminescent (EL) display device, a quantum dotlight-emitting display device, and the like may be used within thespirit and the scope of the disclosure.

In FIG. 1 , the second area 2A may be at an upper side of the displayarea DA having a substantially rectangular shape. However, embodimentsare not limited thereto. The shape of the display area DA may include asubstantially circular shape, a substantially oval shape, or asubstantially polygonal shape, such as a triangular shape, and thelocation of the second area 2A and the number of second areas 2A may bevariously changed.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view schematically illustrating adisplay device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2 , the display device 1 may include a display panel10, and an input sensing layer 40 and an optical functional layer 50,which may be arranged or disposed on the display panel 10. Theseelements may be covered or overlapped by a window 60. The window 60 maybe combined with an element thereunder or there below, for example, theoptical functional layer 50 through an adhesive layer such as anoptically clear adhesive (OCA). The display device 1 may be provided ina variety of types of electronic devices, such as a mobile phone, atablet personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, and a smart watch orany other devices within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The display panel 10 may include diodes arranged or disposed in thedisplay area DA. The input sensing layer 40 may attain coordinateinformation according to an external input, for example, a touch event.The input sensing layer 40 may include a sensing electrode and tracelines electrically connected to the sensing electrode. The input sensinglayer 40 may be arranged or disposed on the display panel 10. The inputsensing layer 40 may sense an external input by using a mutualcapacitance method or self capacitance method.

The input sensing layer 40 may be located or disposed directly on thedisplay panel 10. Alternatively, the input sensing layer 40 may becombined with the display panel 10 through an adhesive layer, such as anOCA. In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the input sensing layer 40may be located or disposed directly on the display panel 10. In thiscase, the adhesive layer may not be disposed between the input sensinglayer 40 and the display panel 10.

The optical functional layer 50 may include an antireflective layer. Theantireflective layer may reduce the reflectivity of light (externallight) incident toward the display panel 10 from the outside through thewindow 60. The optical functional layer 50 may include functionallayers, such as a phase retarder and a polarizer. The phase retarder maybe of a film type or liquid crystal coating type and may include a λ/2phase retarder and/or a λ/4 phase retarder. The polarizer may also be ofa film type or liquid crystal coating type. The film type may include anelongation-type synthetic resin film, and the liquid crystal coatingtype may include liquid crystals arranged or disposed in a certain orpredetermined arrangement. The phase retarder and the polarizer mayinclude a protective film.

The optical functional layer 50 may include structures such as a blackmatrix and color filters. The color filters may be arranged or disposedin consideration of colors of light emitted from the pixels of thedisplay panel 10. In an embodiment, the optical functional layer 50 mayinclude a destructive interference structure. The destructiveinterference structure may include a first reflective layer and a secondreflective layer, which may be arranged or disposed on different layers.First reflected light and second reflected light reflected from thefirst reflective layer and the second reflective layer, respectively,may destructively interfere. Thus, the reflectivity of external lightmay be reduced.

The optical functional layer 50 may include a lens layer. The lens layermay enhance emission efficiency of light emitted from the display panel10 or may reduce color deviation. The lens layer may include a layerhaving a concave or convex lens shape and/or layers having differentrefractive indices.

The component 20 may be located or disposed over the second area 2A. Thecomponent 20 may be an electronic element transmitting and/or receivinglight or sound. For example, the component 20 may include an opticalelement, a sensor that may receive and use light, such as an infraredsensor, a sensor that may output or sense light or sound to measure adistance or to recognize a fingerprint, a small lamp that may outputlight, or a speaker that may output sound.

In an embodiment, when the display device 1 is used as a smart watch ora vehicle instrument panel, the component 20 may be a member, such as awatch needle or a needle for indicating information (for example, carspeed).

The component 20 may include a component(s) adding a function to thedisplay device 1, as described above, or a component, such as anaccessory for increasing an esthetic sense of the display panel 10.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic cross-sectional views schematicallyillustrating a display device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the display device 1 may include a display panel10 including a display element and a component 20 located or disposedunder or below the display panel 10 to correspond to the second area 2A.

The display panel 10 may include a substrate 100, a display elementlayer 200 located or disposed on the substrate 100, and an encapsulationsubstrate 300 a that may be an encapsulation member that may seal thedisplay element layer 200. The display panel 10 may include a lowerprotective film 175 located or disposed under or below the substrate100.

The substrate 100 may include glass or polymer resin. The polymer resinmay include polyethersulfone, polyacrylate, polyether imide,polyethylene naphthalate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylenesulfide, polyarylate, polyimide, polycarbonate, or cellulose acetatepropionate. The substrate 100 including the polymer resin may beflexible, rollable, or bendable. The substrate 100 may have amulti-layer structure including a layer including the polymer resindescribed above and an inorganic layer (not shown).

The display element layer 200 may include a circuit layer includingthin-film transistors TFT and TFT′, organic light-emitting diodes OLEDand OLED′ as display elements, and an insulating layer IL therebetween.Main pixels Pm including a main thin-film transistor TFT and a mainorganic light-emitting diode OLED electrically connected thereto may bearranged or disposed in the first area 1A, and auxiliary pixels Paincluding an auxiliary thin-film transistor TFT′ and an auxiliaryorganic light-emitting diode OLED′ electrically connected thereto may bearranged or disposed in the second area 2A.

The transmission area TA, in which the auxiliary thin-film transistorTFT′ and the display element may not be arranged or disposed, may beprovided or disposed in the second area 2A. The transmission area TA maybe understood as an area in which light/a signal emitted from thecomponent 20 or light/a signal incident toward the component 20transmits.

The display element layer 200 may be covered or overlapped by theencapsulation substrate 300 a. The encapsulation substrate 300 a mayinclude a glass material. For example, the encapsulation substrate 300 amay include a glass material having a main component of silicon oxide(SiO₂). The encapsulation substrate 300 a may face the substrate 100,and a sealant ST may be disposed between the substrate 100 and theencapsulation substrate 300 a. The sealant ST may be located or disposedon edges of the substrate 100 and may entirely surround the displayelement layer 200 between the substrate 100 and the encapsulationsubstrate 300 a. When viewed from a direction perpendicular to a topsurface of the substrate 100 (or on a plan view), the first area 1A andthe second area 2A may be entirely surrounded by the sealant ST.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the display element layer 200 may be covered oroverlapped by a thin-film encapsulation layer 300 b. The thin-filmencapsulation layer 300 b may include at least one inorganicencapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer. Inthis regard, FIG. 3B illustrates first and second inorganicencapsulation layers 310 and 330 and an organic encapsulation layer 320disposed therebetween.

The first and second inorganic encapsulation layers 310 and 330 mayinclude one or more inorganic insulating materials of aluminum oxide,titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, zinc oxide, siliconoxide, silicon nitride, and silicon oxynitride. The organicencapsulation layer 320 may include a polymer-based material. Thepolymer-based material may include acryl-based resin, epoxy-based resin,polyimide, and polyethylene.

The lower protective film 175 may be attached or adhered to a lowerportion of the substrate 100 and may support and protect the substrate100. The lower protective film 175 may include an opening 1750Pcorresponding to the second area 2A. The opening 1750P may be providedin the lower protective film 175 so that light transmittance of thesecond area 2A may be increased. The lower protective film 175 mayinclude polyethylene terephthalate or polyimide, by way of example.

The area of the second area 2A may be greater than an area in which thecomponent 20 may be located or disposed. Thus, the area of the opening1750P provided in the lower protective film 175 may be different fromthe area of the second area 2A. For example, the area of the opening1750P may be less than the area of the second area 2A.

Components 20 may be arranged or disposed in the second area 2A. Thecomponents 20 may have different functions.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a variety of components that constitute thedisplay device 1 may be arranged or disposed on the substrate 100. Thesubstrate 100 may include a display area DA and a non-display area NDAsurrounding or adjacent to the display area DA. The display area DA mayinclude a first area 1A and a second area 2A. The display area DA may becovered or overlapped by the encapsulation member described withreference to FIGS. 3A and 3B described above and may be protected fromexternal air or moisture.

The display device 1 may include main pixels Pm arranged or disposed inthe first area 1A. Each of the main pixels Pm may include a displayelement, such as an organic light-emitting diode. Each main pixel Pm mayemit red, green, blue, or white light, for example, from the organiclight-emitting diode. The main pixel Pm in the specification may beunderstood as a pixel that may emit light of any one of red, green,blue, and white colors, as described above.

The second area 2A may be located or disposed at a side of the firstarea 1A, and auxiliary pixels Pa may be arranged or disposed in thesecond area 2A. Each of the auxiliary pixels Pa may include a displayelement, such as an organic light-emitting diode. Each auxiliary pixelPa may emit red, green, blue, or white light, for example, from theorganic light-emitting diode. The auxiliary pixel Pa used herein may beunderstood as a pixel that may emit light of any one of red, green,blue, and white colors, as described above. The transmission area TA maybe in the second area 2A and may be arranged or disposed between theauxiliary pixels Pa. At least one component 20 may be arranged ordisposed to correspond to a lower portion of the second area 2A of thedisplay device 1.

In an embodiment, one main pixel Pm and one auxiliary pixel Pa mayinclude the same pixel circuit. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto. A pixel circuit included in the main pixel Pm and a pixelcircuit included in the auxiliary pixel Pa may also be different fromeach other.

Because the second area 2A may include the transmission area TA, theresolution of the second area 2A may be lower than that of the firstarea 1A. For example, the resolution of the second area 2A may be about½ of the resolution of first area 1A. In an embodiment, the resolutionof the first area 1A may be about 400 ppi or higher, and the resolutionof the second area 2A may be about 100 ppi.

Each of the main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pa may be electricallyconnected to outer circuits arranged or disposed in the non-display areaNDA. A first scan driving circuit 110, a first emission driving circuit115, a second scan driving circuit 120, a terminal 140, a data drivingcircuit 150, a first power supply line 160, and a second power supplyline 170 may be arranged or disposed in the non-display area NDA.

The first scan driving circuit 110 may provide a scan signal to each ofthe main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pa through the scan line SL. Thefirst emission driving circuit 115 may provide an emission controlsignal to each pixel through the emission control line EL. The secondscan driving circuit 120 may be arranged or disposed in parallel to thefirst scan driving circuit 110 with the display area DA therebetween.Part of the main and auxiliary pixels, Pm and Pa, arranged or disposedin the display area DA may be electrically connected to the first scandriving circuit 110, and the other part thereof may be electricallyconnected to the second scan driving circuit 120. In an embodiment, asecond emission driving circuit (not shown) may be arranged or disposedin parallel to the first emission driving circuit 115 with the displayarea DA therebetween.

The first emission driving circuit 115 may be apart from the first scandriving circuit 110 in an x-direction and may be arranged or disposed inthe non-display area NDA. In an embodiment, the first emission drivingcircuit 115 may be alternately arranged or disposed in a y-directionwith the first scan driving circuit 110.

The terminal 140 may be arranged or disposed at a side of the substrate100. The terminal 140 may not be covered or overlapped by an insulatinglayer but may be exposed and thus may be electrically connected to aprinted circuit board PCB. A terminal PCB-P of the printed circuit boardPCB may be electrically connected to the terminal 140 of the displaydevice 1. The printed circuit board PCB may transmit a signal or powerof a controller (not shown) to the display device 1. A control signalgenerated by the controller (not shown) may be transmitted to the firstscan driving circuit 110, the first emission driving circuit 115, andthe second scan driving circuit 120 through the printed circuit boardPCB. The controller (not shown) may provide a first power supply voltageand a second power supply voltage to the first power supply line 160 andthe second power supply line 170 through a first connection line 161 anda second connection line 171, respectively. A first power supply voltageELVDD may be provided to each of the main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pathrough a driving voltage line PL electrically connected to the firstpower supply line 160, and a second power supply voltage ELVSS may beprovided to an opposite electrode of each of the main and auxiliarypixels Pm and Pa electrically connected to the second power supply line170.

The data driving circuit 150 may be electrically connected to the dataline DL. A data signal of the data driving circuit 150 may be providedto each of the main and auxiliary pixels, Pm and Pa, through aconnection line 151 electrically connected to the terminal 140 and thedata line DL electrically connected to the connection line 151. FIG. 4illustrates that the data driving circuit 150 may be arranged ordisposed on the printed circuit board PCB. However, in an embodiment,the data driving circuit 150 may be arranged or disposed on thesubstrate 100. For example, the data driving circuit 150 may be arrangedor disposed between the terminal 140 and the first power supply line160.

The first power supply line 160 may include a first sub-line 162 and asecond sub-line 163, which may extend in parallel to each other in thex-direction, with the display area DA between the first sub-line 162 andthe second sub-line 163. The second power supply line 170 may have asubstantially loop shape with one open side and may partially surroundthe display area DA.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are equivalent circuit diagrams of pixels that may beincluded in a display device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5 , each of the main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pamay include a pixel circuit PC electrically connected to the scan lineSL and the data line DL and an organic light-emitting diode OLEDelectrically connected to the pixel circuit PC.

The pixel circuit PC may include a driving thin-film transistor T1, aswitching thin-film transistor T2, and a storage capacitor Cst. Theswitching thin-film transistor T2 may be electrically connected to thescan line SL and the data line DL and may transmit a data signal Dminput through the data line DL according to a scan signal Sn inputthrough the scan line SL to the driving thin-film transistor T1.

The storage capacitor Cst may be electrically connected to the switchingthin-film transistor T2 and the driving voltage line PL and may store avoltage corresponding to a difference between a voltage transmitted fromthe switching thin-film transistor T2 and the first power supply voltage(or a driving voltage) ELVDD supplied to the driving voltage line PL.

The driving thin-film transistor T1 may be electrically connected to thedriving voltage line PL and the storage capacitor Cst and may control adriving current that flows through the organic light-emitting diode OLEDfrom the driving voltage line PL in correspondence with a voltage valuestored in the storage capacitor Cst. The organic light-emitting diodeOLED may emit light having certain brightness according to the drivingcurrent.

In FIG. 5 , the pixel circuit PC includes two thin-film transistors andone storage capacitor. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Asshown in FIG. 6 , the pixel circuit PC may include seven thin-filmtransistors and one storage capacitor.

Referring to FIG. 6 , each of the main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pamay include a pixel circuit PC and an organic light-emitting diode OLEDelectrically connected to the pixel circuit PC. The pixel circuit PC mayinclude thin-film transistors and a storage capacitor. The thin-filmtransistors and the storage capacitor may be electrically connected tosignal lines SL, SL-1, EL and DL, an initialization voltage line VL, andthe driving voltage line PL.

In FIG. 6 , each of the main and auxiliary pixels Pm and Pa may beelectrically connected to the signal lines SL, SL-1, EL and DL, theinitialization voltage line VL, and the driving voltage line PL.However, embodiments are not limited thereto. In an embodiment, at leastone of the signal lines SL, SL-1, EL and DL, the initialization voltageline VL, and the driving voltage line PL may be shared in adjacentpixels.

The thin-film transistors may include a driving thin-film transistor TFTT1, a switching TFT T2, a compensation TFT T3, a first initializationTFT T4, an operation control TFT T5, an emission control TFT T6, and asecond initialization TFT T7.

The signal lines may include the signal line SL that may transmit thescan signal Sn, a previous scan line SL-1 that may transmit the previousscan signal Sn-1 to the first initialization TFT T4 and the secondinitialization TFT T7, the emission control line EL that may transmitthe emission control signal En to the operation control TFT T5 and theemission control TFT T6, and the data line DL intersecting with the scanline SL and transmitting the data signal Dm. The driving voltage line PLmay transmit the first power supply voltage (or driving voltage) ELVDDto the driving TFT T1, and the initialization voltage line VL maytransmit the initialization voltage Vint that may initialize the drivingTFT T1 and a pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

A driving gate electrode G1 of the driving TFT T1 may be electricallyconnected to a first storage capacitor plate Cst1 of the storagecapacitor Cst, a driving source electrode S1 of the driving TFT T1 maybe electrically connected to the driving voltage line PL via theoperation control TFT T5, and a driving drain electrode D1 of thedriving TFT T1 may be electrically connected to the pixel electrode ofthe organic light-emitting diode OLED via the emission control TFT T6.The driving TFT T1 may supply a driving current IDLED to the organiclight-emitting diode OLED by receiving the data signal Dm according to aswitching operation of the switching TFT T2.

A switching gate electrode G2 of the switching TFT T2 may beelectrically connected to the scan line SL, a switching source electrodeS2 of the switching TFT T2 may be electrically connected to the dataline DL, and a switching drain electrode D2 of the switching TFT T2 maybe electrically connected to the driving source electrode S1 of thedriving TFT T1 and may be electrically connected to the driving voltageline PL via the operation control TFT T5. The switching TFT T2 may beturned on according to the scan signal Sn received through the scan lineSL and may perform a switching operation of transmitting the data signalDm transmitted to the data line DL to the driving source electrode S1 ofthe driving TFT T1.

A compensation gate electrode G3 of the compensation TFT T3 may beelectrically connected to the scan line SL, a compensation sourceelectrode S3 of the compensation TFT T3 may be electrically connected tothe driving drain electrode D1 of the driving TFT T1 and electricallyconnected to the pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diodeOLED via the emission control TFT T6, a compensation drain electrode D3of the compensation TFT T3 may be electrically connected to the firststorage capacitor plate Cst1 of the storage capacitor Cst, the firstinitialization drain electrode D4 of the first initialization TFT T4,and the driving gate electrode G1 of the driving TFT T1. Thecompensation TFT T3 may be turned on according to the scan signal Sntransmitted through the scan line SL and may electrically connect thedriving gate electrode G1 to the driving drain electrode D1 of thedriving TFT T1, thereby diode-connecting the driving TFT T1.

A first initialization gate electrode G4 of the first initialization TFTT4 may be electrically connected to the previous scan line SL-1, a firstinitialization source electrode S4 of the first initialization TFT T4may be electrically connected to a second initialization drain electrodeD7 of the second initialization TFT T7 and the initialization voltageline VL, and a first initialization drain electrode D4 of the firstinitialization TFT T4 may be electrically connected to the first storagecapacitor plate Cst1 of the storage capacitor Cst, the compensationdrain electrode D3 of the compensation TFT T3, and the driving gateelectrode G1 of the driving TFT T1. The first initialization TFT T4 maybe turned on according to the previous scan signal Sn-1 transmittedthrough the previous scan line SL-1 and may perform an initializationoperation of initializing a voltage of the driving gate electrode G1 ofthe driving TFT T1 by transmitting the initialization voltage Vint tothe driving gate electrode G1 of the driving TFT T1.

An operation control gate electrode G5 of the operation control TFT T5may be electrically connected to the emission control line EL, anoperation control source electrode S5 of the operation control TFT T5may be electrically connected to the driving voltage line PL, and anoperation control drain electrode D5 of the operation control TFT T5 maybe electrically connected to the driving source electrode S1 of thedriving TFT T1 and the switching drain electrode D2 of the switching TFTT2.

An emission control gate electrode G6 of the emission control TFT T6 maybe electrically connected to the emission control line EL, an emissioncontrol source electrode S6 of the emission control TFT T6 may beelectrically connected to the driving drain electrode D1 of the drivingTFT T1 and the compensation source electrode S3 of the compensation TFTT3, and an emission control drain electrode D6 of the emission controlTFT T6 may be electrically connected to the second initialization sourceelectrode S7 of the second initialization TFT T7 and the pixel electrodeof the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

The operation control TFT T5 and the emission control TFT T6 may besimultaneously turned on according to the emission control signal Entransmitted through the emission control line EL such that the firstpower supply voltage (driving voltage) ELVDD may be transmitted to theorganic light-emitting diode OLED and thus the driving current IDLED mayflow through the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

A second initialization gate electrode G7 of the second initializationTFT T7 may be electrically connected to the previous scan line SL-1, asecond initialization source electrode S7 of the second initializationTFT T7 may be electrically connected to the emission control drainelectrode D6 of the emission control TFT T6 and the pixel electrode ofthe organic light-emitting diode OLED, and a second initialization drainelectrode D7 of the second initialization TFT T7 may be electricallyconnected to the first initialization source electrode S4 of the firstinitialization TFT T4 and the initialization voltage line VL. The secondinitialization TFT T7 may be turned on according to the previous scansignal Sn-1 transmitted through the previous scan line SL-1 and mayinitialize the pixel electrode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED.

In FIG. 6 , the first initialization TFT T4 and the secondinitialization TFT T7 may be electrically connected to the previous scanline SL-1. However, embodiments are not limited thereto. In anembodiment, the first initialization TFT T4 may be electricallyconnected to the previous scan line SL-1 and may be driven according tothe previous scan signal Sn-1, and the second initialization TFT T7 maybe electrically connected to an additional signal line (for example, asubsequent scan line) and thus may be driven according to a signaltransmitted to the signal line.

A second storage capacitor plate Cst2 of the storage capacitor Cst maybe electrically connected to the driving voltage line PL, and theopposite electrode of the organic light-emitting diode OLED may beelectrically connected to the second power supply voltage (or a commonvoltage) ELVSS. Thus, the organic light-emitting diode OLED may receivethe driving current IDLED from the driving TFT T1 and may emit light,thereby displaying an image or images.

In FIG. 6 , the compensation TFT T3 and the first initialization TFT T4may have a dual gate electrode. However, the compensation TFT T3 and thefirst initialization TFT T4 may have one gate electrode.

In an embodiment, the main pixel Pm and the auxiliary pixel Pa may havethe same pixel circuit PC. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.The main pixel Pm and the auxiliary pixel Pa may also have pixelcircuits PC having different structures. There may be a variety ofmodifications, wherein, for example, the main pixel Pm may employ thepixel circuit PC of FIG. 6 , and the auxiliary pixel Pa may employ thepixel circuit PC of FIG. 5 .

FIGS. 7A and 7B are schematic cross-sectional views of a main pixel andan auxiliary pixel that may be included in a display device according toan embodiment. In more detail, FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectionalview of the main pixel Pm, and FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectionalview of the auxiliary pixel Pa.

Hereinafter, a stack structure of a display device according to anembodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A and 7B.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the display device 1 may include thin-filmtransistors TFT and TFT′ arranged or disposed on the substrate 100 andorganic light-emitting diodes OLED and OLED′. The substrate 100 mayinclude a glass material or polymer resin having a main component ofsilicon oxide (SiO₂). The polymer resin may include polyethersulfone,polyacrylate, polyether imide, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethyleneterephthalate, polyphenylene sulfide, polyarylate, polyimide,polycarbonate, or cellulose acetate propionate. The substrate 100including the polymer resin may be flexible, rollable, or bendable. Thesubstrate 100 may have a multi-layer structure including a layerincluding the above-described polymer resin and an inorganic layer (notshown).

The buffer layer 101 may be arranged or disposed on the substrate 100,may reduce or prevent the penetration of foreign substances, moisture,or external air from a lower portion of the substrate 100, and mayprovide a flat surface to the substrate 100. The buffer layer 101 mayinclude an inorganic material, such as oxide or nitride, an organicmaterial, or an organic/inorganic composite material and may have asingle layer or multi-layer structure of an inorganic material and anorganic material. A barrier layer (not shown) that may prevent thepenetration of external air may be provided or disposed between thesubstrate 100 and the buffer layer 101.

A main thin-film transistor TFT and an auxiliary thin-film transistorTFT′ may be arranged or disposed on the buffer layer 101. The mainthin-film transistor TFT may include a main semiconductor layer 134 a, amain gate electrode 136 a, a main source electrode 137 a, and a maindrain electrode 138 a, and the auxiliary thin-film transistor TFT′ mayinclude an auxiliary semiconductor layer 134 b, an auxiliary gateelectrode 136 b, an auxiliary source electrode 137 b, and an auxiliarydrain electrode 138 b. The main thin-film transistor TFT may beelectrically connected to the main organic light-emitting diode OLED inthe first area 1A and may drive the main organic light-emitting diodeOLED. The auxiliary thin-film transistor TFT′ may be electricallyconnected to the auxiliary organic light-emitting diode OLED′ in thesecond area 2A and may drive the auxiliary organic light-emitting diodeOLED′.

The main semiconductor layer 134 a may be arranged or disposed on thebuffer layer 101 and may include a main channel region 131 a, a mainsource region 132 a, and a main drain region 133 a, wherein the mainchannel region 131 a may overlap the main gate electrode 136 a, and themain source region 132 a and the main drain region 133 a may each be atboth sides of the main channel region 131 a and may include impuritieshaving higher concentrations than those of the main channel region 131a. The auxiliary semiconductor layer 134 b may be arranged or disposedon the buffer layer 101 and may include an auxiliary channel region 131b, an auxiliary source region 132 b, and an auxiliary drain region 133b, wherein the auxiliary channel region 131 b may overlap the auxiliarygate electrode 136 b, and the auxiliary source region 132 b and theauxiliary drain region 133 b each may be at both sides of the auxiliarychannel region 131 b and may include impurities having higherconcentrations than those of the auxiliary channel region 131 b. Here,the impurities may include N-type impurities or P-type impurities. Eachof the main and auxiliary source regions 132 a and 132 b and the mainand auxiliary drain regions 133 a and 133 b may be electricallyconnected to each of the main and auxiliary source electrodes 137 a and137 b and the main and auxiliary drain electrodes 138 a and 138 b of themain and auxiliary thin-film transistors TFT and TFT′.

The main semiconductor layer 134 a and the auxiliary semiconductor layer134 b may include an oxide semiconductor and/or a silicon semiconductor.When the main semiconductor layer 134 a and the auxiliary semiconductorlayer 134 b are formed of an oxide semiconductor, the main semiconductorlayer 134 a and the auxiliary semiconductor layer 134 b may include anoxide formed of at least one of materials, such as indium (In), gallium(Ga), tin (Sn), zirconium (Zr), vanadium (V), hafnium (Hf), cadmium(Cd), germanium (Ge), chromium (Cr), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn). Forexample, the main semiconductor layer 134 a and the auxiliarysemiconductor layer 134 b may include InSnZnO (ITZO) and InGaZnO (IGZO),and the like within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure. When themain semiconductor layer 134 a and the auxiliary semiconductor layer 134b include a silicon semiconductor, the main semiconductor layer 134 aand the auxiliary semiconductor layer 134 b may include amorphoussilicon (a-Si) or low temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) formed bycrystallizing a-Si.

The main gate electrode 136 a and the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b maybe formed of one or more metals of aluminum (Al), platinum (Pt),palladium (Pd), silver (Ag), magnesium (Mg), gold (Au), nickel (Ni),neodymium (Nd), iridium (Ir), chromium (Cr), lithium (Li), calcium (Ca),molybdenum (Mo), titanium (Ti), tungsten (W), and copper (Cu) and mayhave a single layer or multi-layer structure. The main gate electrode136 a and the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b may be electricallyconnected to a gate line that may apply an electrical signal to the maingate electrode 136 a and the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b.

A first insulating layer 103 may be disposed between the mainsemiconductor layer 134 a and the main gate electrode 136 a and betweenthe auxiliary semiconductor layer 134 b and the auxiliary gate electrode136 b. The first insulating layer 103 may include at least one inorganicinsulating material of silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)),silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), titanium oxide(TiO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), and zinc oxide(ZnO₂). The first insulating layer 103 may have a single layer ormulti-layer structure including the inorganic insulating materialsdescribed above.

A second insulating layer 105 may be provided or disposed on the firstinsulating layer 103 to cover or overlap the main gate electrode 136 aand the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b. The second insulating layer 105may include at least one inorganic insulating material of silicon oxide(SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminumoxide (Al₂O₃), titanium oxide (TiO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), hafniumoxide (HfO₂), and zinc oxide (ZnO₂). The second insulating layer 105 mayhave a single layer or multi-layer structure including the inorganicinsulating materials described above.

A main storage capacitor Cst and an auxiliary storage capacitor Cst′ maybe arranged or disposed on the second insulating layer 105. The mainstorage capacitor Cst may include a main lower electrode 144 a and amain upper electrode 146 a, the main storage capacitor Cst may overlapthe main thin-film transistor TFT, the main lower electrode 144 a of themain storage capacitor Cst may be arranged or disposed as a one bodywith the main gate electrode 136 a of the main thin-film transistor TFT.In an embodiment, the main storage capacitor Cst may not overlap themain thin-film transistor TFT, and the main lower electrode 144 a of themain storage capacitor Cst may be an independent element formedseparately from the main gate electrode 136 a of the main thin-filmtransistor TFT. The auxiliary storage capacitor Cst′ may include anauxiliary lower electrode 144 b and an auxiliary upper electrode 146 b.The auxiliary storage capacitor Cst′ may overlap the auxiliary thin-filmtransistor TFT′, and the auxiliary lower electrode 144 b of theauxiliary storage capacitor Cst′ may be arranged or disposed as a onebody with the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b of the auxiliary thin-filmtransistor TFT′. In an embodiment, the auxiliary storage capacitor Cst′may not overlap the auxiliary thin-film transistor TFT′, and theauxiliary lower electrode 144 b may be an independent element formedseparately from the auxiliary gate electrode 136 b of the auxiliarythin-film transistor TFT′.

The main upper electrode 146 a and the auxiliary upper electrode 146 bmay include Al, Pt, Pd, Ag, Mg, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, Mo, Ti, W,and/or Cu and may have a single layer or multi-layer structure formed ofthe materials described above.

A third insulating layer 107 may be formed or disposed to cover oroverlap the main upper electrode 146 a and the auxiliary upper electrode146 b. The third insulating layer 107 may include silicon oxide (SiO₂),silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide(Al₂O₃), titanium oxide (TiO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), hafnium oxide(HfO₂), or zinc oxide (ZnO₂).

The main and auxiliary source electrodes 137 a and 137 b and the mainand auxiliary drain electrodes 138 a and 138 b may be arranged ordisposed on the third insulating layer 107. The main and auxiliarysource electrodes 137 a and 137 b and the main and auxiliary drainelectrodes 138 a and 138 b may include conductive materials includingMo, Al, Cu, and Ti and may have a multi-layer or single layer structureincluding the materials described above. In an example, the main andauxiliary source electrodes 137 a and 137 b and the main and auxiliarydrain electrodes 138 a and 138 b may have a multi-layer structure ofTi/Al/Ti.

A planarization layer 113 may be arranged or disposed to cover oroverlap the main and auxiliary source electrodes 137 a and 137 b and themain and auxiliary drain electrodes 138 a and 138 b. The planarizationlayer 113 may have a flat top surface so that the pixel electrode of theorganic light-emitting diode OLED arranged or disposed on theplanarization layer 113 may be formed substantially flat.

The planarization layer 113 may include a layer including an organicmaterial or an inorganic material and may have a single layer ormulti-layer structure. The planarization layer 113 may include ageneral-purpose polymer such as benzocyclobutene (BCB), polyimide,hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), orpolystyrene (PS), a polymer derivative having a phenol-based group,acryl-based polymer, imide-based polymer, aryl ether-based polymer,amide-based polymer, fluorine-based polymer, p-xylene-based polymer,vinyl alcohol-based polymer, and/or a blend thereof. The planarizationlayer 113 may include silicon oxide (SiO₂), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)),silicon oxynitride (SiON), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), titanium oxide(TiO₂), tantalum oxide (Ta₂O₅), hafnium oxide (HfO₂), or zinc oxide(ZnO₂). After the planarization layer 113 is formed or disposed,chemical mechanical polishing may be performed to provide a flat topsurface to the planarization layer 113.

The planarization layer 113 may have an opening that may expose any oneof the main source electrode 137 a and the main drain electrode 138 a ofthe main thin-film transistor TFT. A main pixel electrode 210 a may bein electrical contact with the main source electrode 137 a or the maindrain electrode 138 a through the opening and may be electricallyconnected to the main thin-film transistor TFT.

The planarization layer 113 may have an opening that may expose any oneof the auxiliary source electrode 137 b and the auxiliary drainelectrode 138 b of the auxiliary thin-film transistor TFT′. An auxiliarypixel electrode 210 b may be in electrical contact with the auxiliarysource electrode 137 b or the auxiliary drain electrode 138 b throughthe opening and may be electrically connected to the auxiliary thin-filmtransistor TFT′.

In the first area 1A of the substrate 100, a main organic light-emittingdiode OLED may be positioned or disposed on the planarization layer 113,the main organic light-emitting diode OLED including the main pixelelectrode 210 a, a main intermediate layer 220 a, and a main oppositeelectrode 230 a facing the main pixel electrode 210 a with the mainintermediate layer 220 a disposed between the main pixel electrode 210 aand the main opposite electrode 230 a.

In the second area 2A of the substrate 100, an auxiliary organiclight-emitting diode OLED′ may be positioned or disposed on theplanarization layer 113, the auxiliary organic light-emitting diodeOLED′ including the auxiliary pixel electrode 210 b, an auxiliaryintermediate layer 220 b, and an auxiliary opposite electrode 230 bfacing the auxiliary pixel electrode 210 b with the auxiliaryintermediate layer 220 b disposed between the auxiliary pixel electrode210 b and the auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b.

The main pixel electrode 210 a and the auxiliary pixel electrode 210 bmay be arranged or disposed on the planarization layer 113. The mainpixel electrode 210 a and the auxiliary pixel electrode 210 b mayinclude a semi-transparent, a transparent electrode or a reflectiveelectrode. The main pixel electrode 210 a and the auxiliary pixelelectrode 210 b may include a reflective layer formed of Ag, Mg, Al, Pt,Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, and/or a compound thereof, and a transparent orsemi-transparent electrode layer formed or disposed on the reflectivelayer. The transparent or semi-transparent electrode layer may includeat least one of indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), zincoxide (ZnO), indium oxide (In₂O₃), indium gallium oxide (IGO), andaluminum zinc oxide (AZO). The main pixel electrode 210 a and theauxiliary pixel electrode 210 b may have a stack structure ofITO/Ag/ITO.

A pixel-defining layer 180 may be arranged or disposed on theplanarization layer 113. The pixel-defining layer 180 may have anopening that may expose at least part of the main pixel electrode 210 aand an opening that may expose at least part of the auxiliary pixelelectrode 210 b. The pixel-defining layer 180 may increase a distancebetween edges of the main pixel electrode 210 a and the main oppositeelectrode 230 a on the main pixel electrode 210 a, thereby preventing anarc from occurring in the edges of the main pixel electrode 210 a andmay increase a distance between edges of the auxiliary pixel electrode210 b and the auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b on the auxiliary pixelelectrode 210 b, thereby preventing an arc from occurring in the edgesof the auxiliary pixel electrode 210 b. The pixel-defining layer 180 maybe formed of organic insulating materials, such as polyimide, polyamide,acryl resin, BCB, HMDSO, and phenol resin, by using a method such asspin coating, for example.

The main intermediate layer 220 a may be arranged or disposed on themain pixel electrode 210 a, wherein at least part of the main pixelelectrode 210 a may be exposed by the pixel-defining layer 180, and theauxiliary intermediate layer 220 b may be arranged or disposed on theauxiliary pixel electrode 210 b. The main intermediate layer 220 a andthe auxiliary intermediate layer 220 b may include a light-emittinglayer and optionally, although not illustrated, may include functionallayers, such as a hole transport layer (HTL), a hole injection layer(HIL), an electron transport layer (ETL), and an electron injectionlayer (EIL), which may be arranged or disposed under or below and on thelight-emitting layer.

The light-emitting layer may include an organic material including afluorescent or phosphorescent material that may emit red, green, blue,or white light. The light-emitting layer may include a small molecularweight organic material or polymer organic material.

When the light-emitting layer includes a small molecular weightmaterial, the main intermediate layer 220 a and the auxiliaryintermediate layer 220 b may have a structure in which, although notillustrated, an HIL, an HTL, an emission layer (EML), an ETL and an EILmay be stacked in a single or composite structure, and the smallmolecular weight organic material may include a variety of organicmaterials, such as copper phthalocyanine (CuPc),N,N′-Di(napthalene-1-yl)-N,N′-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB), andtris-8-hydroxyquinoline aluminum)(Alq3). These layers may be formed byusing a method such as vacuum deposition, for example.

When the light-emitting layer includes a polymer material, the mainintermediate layer 220 a and the auxiliary intermediate layer 220 b mayhave a structure usually including an HTL and an EML. In this case, theHTL may include poly-(3,4)-ethylene-dihydroxy thiophene (PEDOT), and thelight-emitting layer may include a poly-phenylene vinylene (PPV)-basedor polyfluorene-based polymer material. The light-emitting layer may beformed by using screen printing, inkjet printing, or laser inducedthermal imaging (LITI), for example.

The main opposite electrode 230 a may be arranged or disposed on themain intermediate layer 220 a. The main opposite electrode 230 a may bearranged or disposed on the main intermediate layer 220 a to entirelycover or overlap the main intermediate layer 220 a. The main oppositeelectrode 230 a may be arranged or disposed over the first area 1A toentirely cover or overlap the first area 1A. For example, the mainopposite electrode 230 a may be formed as a one body to cover or overlapthe main pixels Pm arranged or disposed in the first area 1A.

The auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b may be arranged or disposed onthe auxiliary intermediate layer 220 b. The auxiliary opposite electrode230 b may be arranged or disposed on the auxiliary intermediate layer220 b to entirely cover or overlap the auxiliary intermediate layer 220b. The auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b may be arranged or disposedover the second area 2A to entirely cover or overlap the second area 2A.For example, the auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b may be formed as aone body to cover or overlap the auxiliary pixels Pa arranged ordisposed in the second area 2A and may also be arranged or disposed on atransmission area TA provided or disposed in the second area 2A. As anexample, the auxiliary opposite electrode 230 b may be formed ordisposed to cover or overlap the auxiliary pixels Pa in the second area2A but may not be arranged or disposed on the transmission area TA inthe second area 2A.

In an embodiment, the main opposite electrode 230 a and the auxiliaryopposite electrode 230 b may be formed as one body. For example, themain opposite electrode 230 a in the first area 1A may extend into thesecond area 2A and may be arranged or disposed even in the second area2A.

The main opposite electrode 230 a and the auxiliary opposite electrode230 b may include a conductive material having a small work function.For example, the main opposite electrode 230 a and the auxiliaryopposite electrode 230 b may include a (semi-)transparent layerincluding Ag, Mg, Al, Pt, Pd, Au, Ni, Nd, Ir, Cr, Li, Ca, or an alloythereof. Alternatively, the main opposite electrode 230 a and theauxiliary opposite electrode 230 b may include a layer such as ITO, IZO,ZnO, or In₂O₃ on the (semi-)transparent layer including the materialsdescribed above.

The main organic light-emitting diode OLED and the auxiliary organiclight-emitting diode OLED′ may be covered or overlapped by theencapsulation substrate 300 a. The encapsulation substrate 300 a mayinclude a glass material. For example, the encapsulation substrate 300 amay include a glass material having a main component of SiO₂. Theencapsulation substrate 300 a may face the substrate 100.

The embodiment of FIG. 7B may be different from the embodiment of FIG.7A in that the display element layer may be covered or overlapped by thethin-film encapsulation layer 300 b. A description of the sameconfiguration of FIG. 7B as that of FIG. 7A will be omitted, andhereinafter, only a difference therebetween will be described.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the display element layer may be covered oroverlapped by the thin-film encapsulation layer 300 b. The thin-filmencapsulation layer 300 b may include at least one inorganicencapsulation layer and at least one organic encapsulation layer. In anembodiment, the thin-film encapsulation layer 300 b may include firstand second inorganic encapsulation layers 310 and 330 and an organicencapsulation layer 320 disposed therebetween.

Each of the first and second inorganic encapsulation layers 310 and 330may include one or more inorganic insulating materials. The inorganicinsulating materials may include aluminum oxide, titanium oxide,tantalum oxide, hafnium oxide, zinc oxide, silicon oxide, siliconnitride, and/or silicon oxynitride. The organic encapsulation layer 320may include a polymer-based material. The polymer-based material mayinclude acryl-based resin, epoxy-based resin, polyimide, and/orpolyethylene. For example, the organic encapsulation layer 320 mayinclude acryl-based resin, for example, polymethylmethacrylate,polyacrylic acid, and the like within the spirit and the scope of thedisclosure.

When the display panel includes the thin-film encapsulation layer 300 bas an encapsulation member that may cover or overlap the display elementlayer, the display panel may have a smaller thickness or may be thinnerthan the thickness of the display panel described above in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically illustrating a display deviceaccording to an embodiment. In FIG. 8 , for convenience of illustrationand explanation, seven gate lines and seven data lines may be arrangedor disposed in the second area 2A. However, each of the number of gatelines and the number of data lines may be substantially seven or more.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the display device 1 according to an embodimentmay include a substrate 100 including a first area 1A and a second area2A having a transmission area TA, main pixel groups Pgm arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A, auxiliary pixel groups Pga arranged ordisposed in the second area 2A, first signal lines that may electricallyconnect the main pixel groups Pgm to the auxiliary pixel groups Pga andmay extend in a first direction (x-direction), and second signal linesthat may electrically connect the main pixel groups Pgm to the auxiliarypixel groups Pga and may extend in a second direction (y-direction)crossing or intersecting the first direction (x-direction).

In an embodiment, the first signal lines that may extend in the firstdirection (x-direction) may be gate lines GL1 through GL16, and thesecond signal lines that may extend in the second direction(y-direction) may be data lines DL1 through DL15. Each of the main pixelgroups Pgm may include the main pixels Pm described above, and each ofthe auxiliary pixel groups Pga may include the auxiliary pixels Padescribed above. For example, the gate lines GL1 through GL16 that mayextend in the first direction (x-direction) may transmit the scansignal, the previous scan signal, and the emission control signal to themain pixels Pm and the auxiliary pixels Pa, and the data lines DL1through DL15 may transmit the data signal and the driving voltage to themain pixels Pm and the auxiliary pixels Pa.

In an existing display device, there may be a problem that the gatelines extending in the first direction and the data lines extending inthe second direction may be arranged or disposed in the second areahaving the transmission area by a certain or predetermined distance toform grating patterns. The grating patterns formed with the gate linesand the data lines may act as a diffraction grating and thus a blurimage may be output when light emitted from a component (for example, anoptical element) passes through the diffraction grating and isdiffracted.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the disclosure mayprovide a display device having enhanced product reliability in which,in the second area 2A having the transmission area, a distance betweenthe gate lines extending in the first direction (x-direction) and adistance between the data lines extending in the second direction(y-direction) may gradually decrease toward outer portions of the secondarea 2A from the center of the second area 2A such that the gate linesand the data lines may be prevented from acting as a diffractiongrating.

A distance between the gate lines GL2, GL4, GL6, GL8, GL10, GL12, andGL14 extending in the first direction (x-direction) in the second area2A may gradually decrease toward the outer portions of the second area2A from the center of the second area 2A. As an example, a distancebetween closest gate lines may gradually decrease toward the second gateline GL2 and the fourteenth gate line GL14 arranged or disposed at theouter portions of the second area 2A from the eighth gate line GL8arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the second area 2Ain the first direction (x-direction). In an embodiment, a first distanced1 between the eighth gate line GL8 and the tenth gate line GL10arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the second area 2Ain the first direction (x-direction) may be greater than a seconddistance d2 between the tenth gate line GL10 and a twelfth gate lineGL12.

A distance between the data lines DL2, DL4, DL6, DL8, DL10, DL12, andDL14 extending in the second direction (y-direction) in the second area2A may gradually decrease toward the outer portions of the second area2A from the center of the second area 2A. As an example, a distancebetween closest data lines may gradually decrease toward the second dataline DL2 and the fourteenth data line DL14 arranged or disposed at theouter portions of the second area 2A from the eighth data line DL8arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the second area 2Ain the second direction (y-direction). In an embodiment, a thirddistance d3 between the eighth data line DL8 and the tenth data lineDL10 arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the second area2A in the second direction (y-direction) may be greater than a fourthdistance d4 between the tenth data line DL10 and a twelfth data lineDL12.

A distance between adjacent ones of the first signal lines arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A may be less than or equal to a distancebetween adjacent ones of the first signal lines arranged or disposed inthe second area 2A. As an example, a distance between the gate lines GL1through GL16 extending in the first direction (x-direction) in the firstarea 1A may be less than or equal to a distance between the gate linesGL2, GL4, GL6, GL8, GL10, GL12, and GL14 extending in the firstdirection (x-direction) in the second area 2A. In an embodiment, a fifthdistance d5 between a fifteenth gate line GL15 and a sixteenth gate lineGL16 arranged or disposed in the first area 1A may be less than thefirst distance d1 between the eighth gate line GL8 and the tenth gateline GL10 arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the secondarea 2A and the second distance d2 between the tenth gate line GL10 andthe twelfth gate line GL12.

A distance between the gate lines arranged or disposed in the secondarea 2A of the display device 1 may gradually decrease toward the outerportions of the second area 2A from the center of the second area 2A,and a minimum distance between the gate lines arranged or disposed inthe second area 2A may be equal to a distance between the gate linesarranged or disposed in the first area 1A. Thus, the distance betweenthe gate lines arranged or disposed in the second area 2A may graduallydecrease to converge on the distance between the gate lines arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A toward the outer portions of the secondarea 2A from the center of the second area 2A.

A distance between adjacent ones of second signal lines arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A may be less than or equal to a distancebetween adjacent ones of second signal lines arranged or disposed in thesecond are 2A. As an example, the distance between the data lines DL1through DL15 extending in the second direction (y-direction) in thefirst area 1A may be less than or equal to the distance between the datalines DL2, DL4, DL6, DL8, DL10, DL12, and DL14 extending in the seconddirection (y-direction) in the second area 2A. In an embodiment, a sixthdistance d6 between the twelfth data line DL12 and the thirteenth dataline DL13 arranged or disposed in the first area 1A may be less than thethird distance d3 between the eighth data line DL8 and the tenth dataline DL10 arranged or disposed substantially in the center of the secondarea 2A and less than the fourth distance d4 between the tenth data lineDL10 and the twelfth data line DL12.

A distance between the data lines arranged or disposed in the secondarea 2A of the display device 1 may gradually decrease toward the outerportions of the second area 2A from the center of the second area 2A,and a minimum distance between the data lines arranged or disposed inthe second area 2A may be equal to the distance between the data linesarranged or disposed in the first area 1A. Thus, the distance betweenthe data lines arranged or disposed in the second area 2A may graduallydecrease to converge on the distance between the data lines arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A toward the outer portions of the secondarea 2A from the center of the second area 2A.

In an embodiment, a distance between the gate lines and the distancebetween the data lines arranged or disposed in the first area 1A may bein a range of about 50 μm to about 70 μm, and a distance between thegate lines and the data lines each adjacent to the gate lines and thedata lines arranged or disposed substantially in the center of thesecond area 2A may be in a range of about 500 μm to about 700 μm. Thedistance between the gate lines and the data lines arranged or disposedin the second area 2A may gradually decrease toward the outer portionsof the second area 2A from the center of the second area 2A and thus, adistance between the gate lines and the distance each adjacent to thegate lines and the data lines arranged or disposed in the outer portionsof the second area 2A may be in a range of about 50 μm to about 70 μm.

The main pixel groups Pgm arranged or disposed in the first area 1A andthe auxiliary pixel groups Pga arranged or disposed in the second area2A may be electrically connected to the first signal lines extending inthe first direction (x-direction). The main pixel groups Pgm arranged ordisposed in the first area 1A and the auxiliary pixel groups Pgaarranged or disposed in the second area 2A may be electrically connectedto the second signal lines extending in the second direction(y-direction).

Because the second area 2A has the transmission area TA, the number ofthe auxiliary pixel groups Pga that may be arranged or disposed per unitarea in the second area 2A may be less than the number of the main pixelgroups Pgm arranged or disposed per unit area in the first area 1A.

Because the distance between the gate lines GL2, GL4, GL6, GL8, GL10,GL12, and GL14 extending in the first direction (x-direction) in thesecond area 2A may gradually decrease toward the outer portions of thesecond area 2A from the center of the second area 2A and the distancebetween the data lines DL2, DL4, DL6, DL8, DL10, DL12, and DL14extending in the second direction (y-direction) in the second area 2Amay gradually decrease toward the outer portions of the second area 2Afrom the center of the second area 2A, the distance between adjacentones of the auxiliary pixel groups Pga arranged or disposed in the firstdirection (x-direction) and the second direction (y-direction) in thesecond area 2A may gradually decrease toward the outer portions of thesecond area 2A from the center of the second area 2A. In an embodiment,when an auxiliary pixel group Pga arranged or disposed in the center ofthe second area 2A may be referred to as a first auxiliary pixel groupPga1, an auxiliary pixel group Pga adjacent to the first auxiliary pixelgroup Pga1 in the first direction (x-direction) may be referred to as asecond auxiliary pixel group Pga2 and an auxiliary pixel group Pgaadjacent to the second auxiliary group Pga2 in the first direction(x-direction) may be referred to as a third auxiliary pixel group Pga3,a seventh distance d7 between the first auxiliary pixel group Pga1 andthe second auxiliary pixel group Pga2 may be greater than an eighthdistance d8 between the second auxiliary pixel group Pga2 and the thirdauxiliary pixel group Pga3. When an auxiliary pixel group Pga adjacentto the first auxiliary pixel group Pga1 arranged or disposedsubstantially in the center of the second area 2A may be referred to asa fourth auxiliary pixel group Pga4, an auxiliary pixel group Pgaadjacent to the fourth auxiliary pixel group Pga4 in the seconddirection (y-direction) may be referred to as a fifth auxiliary pixelgroup Pga5, a ninth distance d9 between the first auxiliary pixel groupPga1 and the fourth auxiliary pixel group Pga4 may be greater than atenth distance d10 between the fourth auxiliary pixel group Pga4 and thefifth auxiliary pixel group Pga5.

A distance between adjacent ones of the main pixel groups Pgm arrangedor disposed in the first direction (x-direction) may be less than orequal to a distance between adjacent ones of the auxiliary pixel groupsPga arranged or disposed in the first direction (x-direction). As anexample, when a main pixel group Pgm electrically connected to thefifteenth gate line GL15 and the second data line DL2 may be referred toas a first main pixel group Pgm1 and a main pixel group Pgm adjacent tothe first main pixel group Pgm1 in the first direction (x-direction) maybe referred to as a second main pixel group Pgm2, an eleventh distanced11 between the first main pixel group Pgm1 and the second main pixelgroup Pgm2 may be less than or equal to the seventh distance d7 betweenthe first auxiliary pixel group Pga1 and the second auxiliary pixelgroup Pga2 and the eighth distance d8 between the second auxiliary pixelgroup Pga2 and the third auxiliary pixel group Pga3.

The distance between adjacent ones of the main pixel groups Pgm arrangedor disposed in the second direction (y-direction) may be less than orequal to the distance between adjacent ones of the auxiliary pixelgroups Pga arranged or disposed in the second direction (y-direction).As an example, when a main pixel group Pgm adjacent to the first mainpixel group Pgm1 electrically connected to the fifteenth gate line GL15and the second data line DL2 in the second direction (y-direction) maybe referred to as a third main pixel group Pgm3, a twelfth distance d12between the first main pixel group Pgm1 and the third main pixel groupPgm3 may be less than or equal to the ninth distance d9 between thefirst auxiliary pixel group Pga1 and the fourth auxiliary pixel groupPga4 and the tenth distance d10 between the fourth auxiliary pixel groupPga4 and the fifth auxiliary pixel group Pga5.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are plan views schematically illustrating a displaydevice according to an embodiment. By way of an example, FIG. 9A is aview illustrating that at least one of the first signal lines extendingin the first direction (x-direction) may be disconnected by the secondarea 2A therebetween and may be electrically connected by connectionlines bypassing or disposed along edges of the second area 2A, and FIG.9B is a view illustrating that at least one of the second signal linesextending in the second direction (y-direction) may be disconnected bythe second area 2A therebetween and may be electrically connected byconnection lines bypassing or disposed along edges of the second area2A. In FIG. 9A, for convenience of illustration and explanation, threeconnection lines bypass or may be disposed along lower edges of thesecond area 2A. However, the number of connection lines bypassing orbeing disposed along the lower edges of the second area 2A may besubstantially three or more, and the connection lines may bypass or bemay disposed along upper edges of the second area 2A. Also, in FIG. 9B,for convenience of illustration and explanation, three connection linesbypass or may be disposed along right edges of the second area 2A.However, the number of connection lines bypassing or being disposedalong the right edges of the second area 2A may be substantially threeor more, and the connection lines may bypass or may be disposed alongleft edges of the second area 2A within the spirit and the scope of thedisclosure.

In order to enhance transmittance of the second area 2A, a smallernumber of signal lines than in the first area 1A may be arranged ordisposed in the second area 2A. For example, in order to enhancetransmittance of the second area 2A, the number of signal lines that maybe arranged or disposed per unit area in the second area 2A may be lessthan the number of signal lines arranged or disposed per unit area inthe first area 1A.

To this end, at least one of the first signal lines may include firstsignal lines extending in the first direction (x-direction) anddisconnected by the second area 2A therebetween, and the disconnectedfirst signal lines may be electrically connected to each other by theconnection lines bypassing or being disposed along the edges of thesecond area 2A. As an example, referring to FIG. 9A, the gate lines GL9,GL11, and GL13 may extend in the first direction (x-direction), may bedisconnected by the second area 2A therebetween and may be electricallyconnected by connection lines GL9-C, GL11-C, and GL13-C bypassing orbeing disposed along the edges of the second area 2A. Each of the gatelines GL9, GL11, and GL13 and the connection lines GL9-C, GL11-C, andGL13-C may be arranged or disposed on different layers and may beelectrically connected to each other via a contact hole CNT or may alsobe arranged or disposed on the same layer.

At least one of the second signal lines may include second signal linesextending in the second direction (y-direction) and disconnected by thesecond area 2A therebetween, and the disconnected second signal linesmay be electrically connected to each other by the connection linesbypassing or being disposed along the edges of the second area 2A. As anexample, referring to FIG. 9B, the data lines DL9, DL11, and DL13 mayextend in the second direction (y-direction), may be disconnected by thesecond area 2A therebetween and may be electrically connected by theconnection lines DL9-C, DL11-C, and DL13-C bypassing or being disposedalong the edges of the second area 2A. Each of the data lines DL9, DL11,and DL13 and the connection lines DL9-C, DL11-C, and DL13-C may bearranged or disposed on different layers and electrically connected toeach other via a contact hole CNT or may also be arranged or disposed onthe same layer.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are plan views schematically illustrating a displaydevice according to an embodiment. For example, FIG. 10A is av plan viewenlarging region A of FIG. 8 , and FIG. 10B is a plan view enlargingregion B of FIG. 8 .

Referring to FIG. 10A, each of the auxiliary pixel groups Pga mayinclude a first auxiliary pixel Pa1, a second auxiliary pixel Pa2, and athird auxiliary pixel Pa3 that may emit lights of different wavelengths,and each of the second signal lines may include a first conductive lineCL1, a second conductive line CL2, and a third conductive line CL3. Asan example, the auxiliary pixel group Pga may include a first auxiliarypixel Pa1 that may emit light of a red wavelength, a second auxiliarypixel Pa2 that may emit light of a green wavelength, and a thirdauxiliary pixel Pa3 that may emit light of a blue wavelength. The firstconductive line CL1 may be electrically connected to the first auxiliarypixel Pa1, the second conductive line CL2 may be electrically connectedto the second auxiliary pixel Pa2, and the third conductive line CL3 maybe electrically connected to the third auxiliary pixel Pa3.

In FIG. 10A, three auxiliary pixels Pal, Pa2, and Pa3 may be included inone auxiliary pixel group Pga and arranged or disposed in one column.However, embodiments are not limited thereto. Four auxiliary pixels maybe included in one auxiliary pixel group Pga and arranged or disposed intwo columns, or eight auxiliary pixels may be included in one auxiliarypixel group Pga and arranged or disposed in four columns.

Referring to FIG. 10B, each of the main pixel groups Pgm may include afirst main pixel Pm1, a second main pixel Pm2, and a third main pixelPm3 that may emit lights of different wavelengths, and each of thesecond signal lines may include a first conductive line CL1, a secondconductive line CL2, and a third conductive line CL3. As an example, themain pixel group Pgm may include a first main pixel Pm1 that may emitlight of a red wavelength, a second main pixel Pm2 that may emit lightof a green wavelength, and a third main pixel Pm3 that may emit light ofa blue wavelength, and the first conductive line CL1 may be electricallyconnected to the first main pixel Pm1, and the second conductive lineCL2 may be electrically connected to the second main pixel Pm2, and thethird conductive line CL3 may be electrically connected to the thirdmain pixel Pm3.

In FIG. 10B, three main pixels Pm1, Pm2, and Pm3 may be included in onemain pixel group Pgm and arranged or disposed in one column. However,embodiments are not limited thereto. Four main pixels may be included inone main pixel group Pgm and arranged or disposed in two columns, oreight main pixels may be included in one main pixel group Pgm andarranged or disposed in four columns.

According to one or more embodiments, in order to solve a problem that,in a display device according to the related art, gate lines and datalines regularly arranged or disposed in an area in which a component maybe located or disposed, act as a diffraction grating such that lightemitted from the component passes through the diffraction grating and isdiffracted and thus a blur image may be output, a distance between thegate lines arranged or disposed in the area in which the component maybe located or disposed, and a distance between the data lines arrangedor disposed in the area in which the component may be located ordisposed, may be gradually decreased as getting closer to outer portionsfrom substantially the center of the area so that the gate lines and thedata lines may be prevented from acting as the diffraction grating andthus a display device having enhanced product reliability may beprovided.

According to one or more embodiments described above, a display devicehaving an enlarged display area in which an image or images may bedisplayed even in an area in which a component may be located ordisposed, may be implemented. However, the scope of the disclosure isnot limited by these effects.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodimentshould typically be considered as available for other similar featuresor aspects in other embodiments. While one or more embodiments have beendescribed with reference to the figures, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope asdefined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a substratecomprising a first area and a second area, the second area having atransmission area; a plurality of main pixel groups disposed in thefirst area; and a plurality of auxiliary pixel groups disposed in thesecond area; wherein a distance between adjacent ones of the pluralityof auxiliary pixel groups disposed in the second area graduallydecreases toward the outer portions of the second area from the centerof the second area.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein a distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of auxiliary pixel groupsdisposed in a first direction gradually decreases toward the outerportions of the second area from the center of the second area.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein a distance between adjacent ones ofthe plurality of auxiliary pixel groups disposed in a second directionintersecting the first direction gradually decreases toward the outerportions of the second area from the center of the second area.
 4. Thedisplay device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of auxiliary pixelgroups comprise: a first auxiliary pixel group disposed in the center ofthe second area; a second auxiliary pixel group adjacent to the firstauxiliary pixel group in the first direction; a third auxiliary pixelgroup adjacent to the second auxiliary pixel group in the firstdirection; a fourth auxiliary pixel group adjacent to the firstauxiliary pixel group in the second direction; and a fifth auxiliarypixel group adjacent to the fourth auxiliary pixel group in the seconddirection.
 5. The display device of claim 4, wherein a distance betweenthe first auxiliary pixel group and the second auxiliary pixel group isgreater than a distance between the second auxiliary pixel group and thethird auxiliary pixel group.
 6. The display device of claim 4, wherein adistance between the first auxiliary pixel group and the fourthauxiliary pixel group is greater than a distance between the fourthauxiliary pixel group and the fifth auxiliary pixel group.
 7. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent ones ofthe plurality of main pixel groups disposed in the first direction isless than or equal to a distance between adjacent ones of the pluralityof auxiliary pixel groups disposed in the first direction.
 8. Thedisplay device of claim 1, wherein a distance between adjacent ones ofthe plurality of main pixel groups disposed in the second direction isless than or equal to a distance between adjacent ones of the pluralityof auxiliary pixel groups disposed in the second direction.
 9. Thedisplay device of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of firstsignal lines that electrically connect the plurality of main pixelgroups to the plurality of auxiliary pixel groups, the plurality offirst signal lines extending in a first direction; and a plurality ofsecond signal lines that electrically connect the plurality of mainpixel groups to the plurality of auxiliary pixel groups, the pluralityof second signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting thefirst direction.
 10. The display device of claim 9, wherein a distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of first signal lines in thesecond area gradually decreases toward outer portions of the second areafrom a center of the second area.
 11. The display device of claim 9,wherein a distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of secondsignal lines in the second area gradually decreases toward the outerportions of the second area from the center of the second area.
 12. Thedisplay device of claim 9, wherein a distance between adjacent ones ofthe plurality of first signal lines in the first area is less than orequal to the distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of firstsignal lines in the second area.
 13. The display device of claim 9,wherein a distance between adjacent ones of the plurality of secondsignal lines in the first area is less than or equal to the distancebetween adjacent ones of the plurality of second signal lines in thesecond area.